NFC Draft Grades!

Hey guys, sorry this is a little late, but I've been caught in transition between home and school. But I'm home now for a few days, so I'll try to get this all finished up.

Dallas Cowboys: (C) I loved what they did to get Purdue DE Anthony Spencer. He's a high-motor guy who could get 10 sacks for the boys in his 1st season. After that, I'm not too impressed, though. I do like NIU OT Doug Free, who in a few seasons could develop into a starter at either tackle position. And props to Wade Philips for taking a player from U of I, even if it was the 27th pick in the 7th round.

NY Giants: (C+) The Gents filled 2 needs with good talent in the first 2 rounds, with Texas CB Aaron Ross and USC WR Steve Smith. Neither may wind up being a star, buth both will be solid players for years to come. Didn't pick up a complimentary back until Marshall's Ahmad Bradshaw in the 7th. I would have liked to see them get some insurance for Reuben Droughns, who may be nearing his last legs, and of course, former Saluki Brandon Jacobs, who I'm not sold on as a #1 back.

Philly Eagles: (F) This was a disaster. Maybe Andy Reid hasn't had a chance to do any scouting with all his home problems, but even that doesn't excuse this terrible a draft. After trading their first rounder to division rival Dallas, it put that much more pressure on them to get 2 slam dunk 2nd rounders. Instead, what they did was reach for a system QB (Kevin Kolb of Houston) and a super-slow pass-rushing DE (ND's Victor Abiamiri). I can't explain the pick of Kolb, who most had at best as the 4th best QB left at that point, behind Beck, Stanton and Edwards. They must have just liked something about him. The Abiamiri pick was trying to make up for losing Spencer, to a division rival nonetheless, the guy they should have taken in the first place. Nothing in the later rounds even comes close to making up for it. Just bad.

Washington Redskins: (D-) This was another bad draft for Dan Snyder's Skins. Again, what do you expect when you (again) have on high pick, then nothing til the 5th? It's just too much to be missing. Their pass rush last year was absolutely anemic last year. (19 sacks). So, you think, they'll either take a slam dunk guy at #6 like Gaines Adams or Jamaal Anderson or even trade down to get an Anthony Sepncer, Adam Carriker, or Jarvis Moss and an extra pick. Nope, they took a safety. LSU's LaRon Landry is gonna be a helluva player, though, and that's the only reason why this isn't an F. They did get good value with USC LB Dallas Sartz in the 5th, but when he's your second player taken, it doesn't look like such a steal. A fun pick in UTEP QB Jordan Palmer in the 6th. He's Carson's lil bro, but he's got an outside shot at best to make the roster. Hell, he may be better than Tim Hasselback though.

Chicago Bears: (B) I like their first 3 picks. Greg Olsen is a game changer (even if not a HUGE need, since they already have Desmond Clark), especially at the spot they drafted from. He could have been a top 15 guy. And a lot of people say Cent. Mich. DE Dan Bazuin was a reach in the 2nd, and he was, slightly, but he has the potential to blossom in Lovie Smith's system. And I like NIU RB Garrett Wolfe as a compliment to Cedric Benson's pounding style. Their 5th rounders (LA-Monroe S Kevin Payne and New Hampshire CB Corey Graham) are a couple small-school guys who could develop into solid contributors on D.

Detroit Lions: (C-) This looks like a good draft for the Silver and Blue--filled with talent, but its all in the wrong places. I don't know how Matt Millen convinced his management team to take ANOTHER "once in a lifetime" WR (haven't we heard that before?) in the first round, but he did. I thought for sure when Calvin Johson's name was called, it would signal a trade with the Bucs. I guess Cleveland's taking Joe Thomas thwarted that, but Detroit has played it off like they are happy to have Johnson. I guess any team would be, and I guess he'll be good in Mike Martz's system, but they REALLY could've used that franchise LT. Or Pro Bowl LB. Or shut-down CB. In the 2nd, they did get a Martz-guy and possible QB of the future in Mich. St.'s Drew Stanton, but their other two 2nd rounders (Boise S Gerald Alexander and Hawaii DE Ikaika Alma Francis) left something to be desired. I don't know if I would call them out-and-out reaches, based on where they were projected, but they just aren't knock-out guys when your 1st pick (2nd overall) was a luxury pick. They didn't take a CB til the 4th (NC St.'s AJ Davis) and didn't take a LB until the 5th (Alabama A&M's Johnny Baldwin). Neither of those guys is a step-in now guy either. If I didn't think Johnson was going to be all everyone thinks he will, this grade would be much lower.

Green Bay Packers: (C-) This was not great. They reached big for Tenn. DT Justin Harrell at #16 overall. That's not to say he won't be a good player, I think he will, but they could have used a star WR or RB to help out the old man behind center. One could argue they did that with Nebraska RB Brandon Jackson in the 2nd, San Jose St. WR James Jones in the 3rd and Va. Tech WR/speedster David Clowney in the 5th, but I'm not buying it. Jackson might be able to almost fill the hole where Ahman Green once was, and last year GB showed the ability to develop mid-tier rookie WRs with West. Mich. WR Greg Jennings, who is beginning to look like a #1 guy, but they're not stars like I think Dwyane Bowe and Robert Meachem will become. What really keeps this draft from sinking beneath the ice of Lambeau is the steal of Colorado K Mason Crosby late in the 6th.

Minnesota Vikings: (B) This was a solid draft. They got a game-breaker in Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson and a first-round talent WR (South Car.'s Sidney Rice) in the 2nd. And 3rd round CB Marcus McCauley, Fresno St., would probably have been a first rounder last year, but had a slow senior season. Throw in value picks DE Brian Robison, Texas, 4th rd; WR Aundrae Allison from small school East Carolina, 5th rd; and LB Rufus Alexander from big school Oklahoma in the 6th and its a good draft top to bottom.

Atlanta Falcons: (B+) they would have loved to have gotten either Calvin Johnson or Laron Landry, but they should be happy with Jamaal Anderson. Some think he's better than Gaines Adams. He'll make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball as a flexible, pass-rushing DE/OLB. 2nd round G Longhorn Justin Blalock is a mammoth and a monster, and will add a ton of strength to the o-line. With their other 2nd rounder, they got a first-round talent in Arkansas CB Chris Houston. Their 3rd-round WR Laurent Robinson out of (gasp) Illinois State! was really under the radar until the combine, but he's good. Trust me. They even added a value center in Buckeye Doug Datish. Nice work, Atlanta.

Carolina Panthers: (B) A solid draft for Carolina. I like 1st round LB John Beason, who will either make a nice complement or a nice replacement for Dan Morgan, whose future is iffy due to lingering injuries. I'll be honest, though, I liked the pick of USC WR Dwayne Jarrett in the 2nd round a lot more before they cut Keyshawn Johnson. Without a mentor to mold him, Jarrett's motivation, discipline and ability could slide far. USC C Ryan Kalil is going to be a monster, so he was a nice 2nd round pick, and 3rd round DE Charles Johnson from Georgia is ready to contribute immediately as well.

New Orleans Saints: (B-) Tenn. WR Robert Meachem was a great pick at #27 overall. He will step right in and have a big season catching the ball from Drew Brees under the guidance of Sean Payton. I'm not a big fan of small-school CB's in round 2, especially when there are more solid guys on the board (see the case of Bartell, Ron), but everything I've heard about Kent CB Usama Young is positive. Their 4th rounders are really what help, though. Oh. St. RB Antonio Pittman will be the rock solid, not flashy, but good-enough RB he was in college, and Towson T Jermon Bushrod has the raw skill and power to become a giant for their O-line.

TB Buccaneers: (C-) They really wanted Calvin Johnson, but they settled for monster Clemson DE Gaines Adams. That's still a very good pick for them. And getting Tennessee's rock of a guard Arron Sears helps too. But Oregon St. safety Sabby Piscitelli was a reach with their other 2nd rounder, and nothing beyond that turns heads.

Arizona Cardinals: (B-) I love the nasty road-grader they got in Penn St.'s T Levi Brown, but #5 was too high. Once Gaines Adams and Joe Thomas were both off the board ahead of them, they should have traded down a few spots, where they still could have gotten Brown and few more picks, which they could use for some much needed depth. This grade will rise if Michigan DT Alan Branch can keep his quickness and step up his work ethic (and if his stress-fractured legs don't break). Their remaining three picks were well-spent on value guys Fla St. LB Buster Davis (3rd), Michigan WR Steve Breaston (5th) and Delaware TE Ben Patrick (7th).

St. Louis Rams: (B) Coach Scott Linehan did things the way he wanted to, but with a little more restraint than last year's 3 TE bonanza. 1st rounder Nebraska DE Adam Carriker is a step-right-in and contribute need guy in a Grant-Wistrom typre form. He'll be a fan and coach favorite for his never-ending motor. He also has better physical tools than Wistrom ever did. Great pick. Linehan also got one of his offensive-type guys in the jack-of-all-backs Brian Leonard from Rutgers in the second. He'll be able to spell Steven Jackson, line up behind him at fullback, and even catch passes as a TE. another great pick. Add some value guys in the 3rd (Tenn. CB Jonathan Wade), 5th (Clemson C dustin Fry) and 6th (Georgia T Ken Shackleford) and its a solid and balanced sophomore effort from Linehan's crew.

Seattle Seahwaks: (C-) I'm not in love with any of their picks. I guess their so set at most of their positioins that this was almost purely a depth draft. Trading beloved WR Darrell Jackson for a 4th rounder that allowed for Miami DE Baraka Atkins and Ga Tech G Mansfield Wrotto doesn't help, but their stocked with WR's, so if either develops well, I guess its ok. Maryland CB Josh Wilson was a reach in the second, but I do like Cali DT Brandon Mebane, who they got in the 3rd, who'll be able to develop slowly as a rotation guy initially. Auburn WR Courtney Taylor and Oregon WR Joradn KEnt (no relation to Ernie) are nice fliers in the 6th as well.

San Francisco 49ers (finally): (B+) If Cent. Mich's Joe Staley becomes the T they want him to be, this will be an A. Ole Miss's Patrick Willis was the best LB in the draft, and he fills a need position, so to get him at 11 was fine. Giving up what they did to get Staley was ok too, because of the value they got in later rounds. That value came in the forms of Wash. St. WR Jason Hill (3rd), DEs Ray McDonald (Fla) and Jay Moore (Neb.) in the 4th, and Texas CB Tarell Brown (5th). Brown could wind up as the next Nathan Vasher, an overlooked good-guy CB from Texas who blossoms in the big game. And Kansas St. RB Thomas Clayton, though not flashy and not a star, should be able to help spell Frank Gore from time to time.

Ok. That's all. Finally. If you don't agree or catch a mistake, reply. It's late, and I'm out. Dan